How quickly disappear

How quickly disappear

Light and radiance;

The morning finds

A withered garland,

That only yesterday glowed

In all its splendor.

For it has faded

In the dark night.

Like a wave does

Life drift away,

As bright as it has painted itself:

It has gained nothing;

The sun sets,

The redness flees,

The shadows climb,

And darkness draws in.

So love floats

Into the wastelands,

Ah, would that it might remain

Until the grave!

Yet we awake

To deep pain:

The skiff breaks,

The light is extinguished.

From the beautiful land

We are brought far away,

To a desolate shore

Where night surrounds us.